Ticking Lyme Bomb Detector (The Global Lyme Alliance and EVERSANA INTOUCH)
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection resulting from the bite of an infected black-legged deer tick. Initial symptoms can include a rash, fever, headache, and fatigue. If untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system. With a changing climate allowing ticks to live longer and spread further, Lyme disease now threatens millions.
The telltale red rash of a tick bite is harder to spot on people of color, who are often misdiagnosed. In addition, there are very few photos that help doctors and patients recognize rashes on darker skin tones. A recent study found that 1 in 3 Black patients newly diagnosed with Lyme disease already had related neurological complications—a sign that the disease may not have been caught early enough.
EVERSANA INTOUCH created the Lyme Bomb Detector—the first smartphone app that enables earlier detection of Lyme rashes on Black and Brown skin.
The tool, fueled by artificial intelligence, allows users to photograph rashes and compare with a library of Lyme and non-Lyme rashes in a range of skin tones. As the app collects data, AI optimizes for accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity to predict Lyme rashes. As not all Lyme cases present with a rash, the tool also checks for common symptoms via a quick, intuitive quiz. After evaluating photos and quiz answers, the tool helps connect people to local doctors.
Currently, the system’s prototype is achieving 79.6% accuracy in detecting Lyme rashes from smartphone pictures and improving diagnoses results for people of color globally.
